Madama Butterfly

EsittelyIntroduction

Farewell to innocent love

“If I am not moved, if the libretto does not touch my heart...then it's not for me,” said Giacomo Puccini, a master creator of operatic moods. The story of the young Japanese “butterfly” did indeed touch his heart, inspiring him to compose one of his most beautiful works.

Puccini paints a heart-breaking picture of Cio-Cio San (Butterfly) as she awaits her beloved. Three years earlier, American Lieutenant Pinkerton fell in love with and married her. Her family has rejected her and they are suspicious of Pinkerton, but Butterfly trusts that he will return. And he does return to fetch his little son – with his new American wife.

The Stage Director, Henry Akina, and some of the designers are of Asian descent: “Our view of Butterfly, her story and fate is strongly marked by our personal experience of contemporary Asian and American culture,” he says. “We hope we can succeed in bringing our audience closer to one of opera’s best-loved characters.”